Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati joins GE Aerospace Foundation's Lifting Futures program
New work will map aerospace and manufacturing talent connections across the Dayton region
The Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati is one of three Southwest Ohio partners selected for Lifting Futures, the GE Aerospace Foundation's $30 million national program to train 10,000 aerospace workers by 2030. Cincinnati and Dayton are two of the program's five inaugural communities.
GE Aerospace and its Foundation plan to invest nearly $1 million in Southwest Ohio's aerospace workforce, including about $500,000 in the program's first year. Sinclair will expand manufacturing and welding courses and launch an accelerated technician program, training more than 150 workers. Hobart Institute of Welding Technology will recruit and place 50 students in its Troy welding program. The Talent Collaborative will map the region to strengthen long-term industry coordination. First-year grants are expected to benefit roughly 200 workers.
What we'll do
From October 2026 through early 2027, we'll map how aerospace and manufacturing employers and education and training providers connect across the Dayton region. That includes conversations with employers, K-12 career-technical programs, community colleges, universities, workforce partners and apprenticeship programs.
The goal is to understand what's already working, lift it up, and find where more coordination could help people move into aerospace and manufacturing careers from Dayton through Cincinnati and into Northern Kentucky. Those careers go well beyond GE: its suppliers and manufacturers across the region need the same skilled workers.
"We are excited to bring the Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati's approach to connecting and convening workforce partners to better connect with our neighboring community in Dayton, Ohio," said Monika Royal-Fischer, Director of the Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati. "The Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana region has a strong aerospace and manufacturing base and we look forward to ensuring there are additional opportunities for individuals, training providers and employers to partner on pathways that enable Lifting Futures to achieve its goal of training 10,000 workers by 2030."
GE Aerospace is also investing $400,000 in the Future of Manufacturing Fund at United Way of Greater Cincinnati to help increase training completion and job placement.
Full press release: GE Aerospace, Foundation Donate Nearly $1M for SW Ohio Workforce Programs
